For most people, retirement is a time for rest and tranquility; however, for Ashok Kumar, it marked the beginning of a new phase. The 68-year-old Ashok Kumar, former General Manager of Coal India Limited, returned to student life after decades working in the field of engineering. He enrolled in the Master's program in Psychology (PG) at Ranchi University.
According to Dainik Jagran, Ashok Kumar retired from Coal India as General Manager on September 30, 2018. However, his professional journey did not end there. After that, he joined JP Group as Vice President and later worked as a consultant. Even after a second retirement on October 23, 2025, he maintained a desire to learn something new.
Ashok Kumar's entire academic background is rooted in engineering. He obtained a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Jaipur, followed by a Master of Technology (MTech) in Industrial Engineering and Management from ISM Dhanbad. Furthermore, he earned a Doctorate degree (PhD) in engineering.
After a long and successful career in technical and managerial positions, he decided to switch his focus to psychology. Psychology allows him to understand how people think and what their behavior is. Ashok Kumar notes: 'Engineering taught me to understand machines, and now I want to understand people through psychology. Learning has no boundaries or age limits.'
Like other young people, Ashok Kumar regularly attends classes and exchanges views with professors. His diligence has attracted the attention of the entire faculty. Dr. Parvez Hasan, head of the psychology department, stated that he has seen very few students in his career who have achieved so much while also showing such a thirst and drive to continue learning.
Ashok Kumar, who transitioned from an engineer to senior positions in the corporate world, is writing this next chapter not in an office, but in the university classroom, where he studies alongside children younger than him.
